That made me sigh, made the ache return. And not just because I wasn’t sure if Kiera would say yes…but because I didn’t know how to tell Kiera about Hailey. I didn’t know if I even could. Not wanting to get into it with Hailey, I simply told her, “Yeah…sure.” Probably not. Definitely not. I’m so sorry.

Silence built up as that sad fact absorbed me. In the quiet, Hailey said, “Hey, I know you don’t want to be bugged or pushed—”

Knowing where she was going, I instantly cut her off. “Hailey, don’t—”

Proving we really were related, she cut me off too. “I’m not going to say anything else to him about you, I promise. Our conversations are private, confidential. But that doesn’t mean I can’t say something to you…about him.”

“I don’t want to—”

“I know you don’t,” she said, interrupting me again. “I just…Whatever you think he is…he’s not. Can you just trust that I know him in ways you don’t? He’s a good man, Kellan. And you’re hurting him. And I don’t understand why. Can you explain it to me?”

My jaw clenched tight, and words were suddenly impossible. Could I even have a relationship with her when it unintentionally brought with it so much pain? Would this ever end? Fade? Because every time she mentioned him, it was a fresh dagger in my heart. She knew him better? Well, of course she did—he hadn’t abandoned her. He was a good man? If he was so good, then why did he leave me in hell? Why did he flush me away like I was…garbage? Good man…bullshit. Repentant, maybe. Good? No.

“I have to go,” I told her, my voice brusque.

“Kellan, I…” she paused, then sighed. “Call me later?”

A small smile lifted my lips. “Yeah.” Painful or not, I still needed her.

I felt…on edge after that conversation. Both happy and furious. It was difficult to maintain the two conflicting emotions, and my insides were churning as I debated how to even myself out.

“It’s Kellan, right?”

I looked up to see Paul walking my way. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. We’d talked several times. He knew my fucking name. He was the only one on the tour who seemed to openly dislike me. I really had no idea why. I’d only ever been nice to him. I was chalking it up to jealousy. Stupid, petty jealousy. A lot of girls talked to me, flirted with me, not-so-subtly came on to me, while he…struggled to make a connection.

Not giving him the satisfaction of acknowledging his belittling comment, I said, “Hey, Paul. I’m kind of in the middle of something…could I have a moment alone, please?”